Technology
The technologies used in today’s tires are vastly improved over the tires of the early 1900’s. Improvements in raw materials and chemical compounds used in tires have led to tires that perform more effectively for their intended use. Whether we're talking about improvements in compound that offer better grip in snow and ice tires or compound enhancements that provide improved wet handling, technology continues to improve tire performance. Innovations in tread patterns, sidewall design and overall tire construction have also led to product improvements in today’s tires. Naturally, as types of vehicles and vehicle models continue to change, so too must tire construction and sizes.

Perhaps one of the most comprehensive technological innovations of the modern tire era is the invention of run-flat tire technology. While there are different types of runflat tires, the premise is the same: tires with run-flat technology allow consumers to travel a limited distance at limited speeds after a tire sustains complete air loss due to a puncture or cut. They are designed to allow a driver to travel to a safe location to change a flat tire.